The FIBA Polynesian Cup basketball tournament officially kicked off yesterday at the National University of Samoa gym. The host Samoa, Cooks Islands, Tahiti, American Samoa and Tonga will go head-to-head in the six-day tournament. The tournament will feature both men’s and women’s teams and will use a round robin format in the group stage, with the top four teams qualifying for the finals.

Cook Islands' veteran-savvy overwhelmed a young Samoa side in the Women's Division of the 2018 Polynesian Cup to take a commanding 80-47 victory. The ladies in green kept their defensive pace high, hounding the host nation with their full-court pressure defense.

The reigning Mr Samoa is excited to defend his title at this year’s competition next Saturday. Athletes competing met Samoa Bodybuilding Federation (S.B.F.) coach Johan Keil at his gym yesterday morning to check in ahead of Mr Samoa 2018.

The Manu Sina are excited to get their Oceania Rugby Womens 15s Championship started against Papua New Guinea this afternoon. The match is their first since the Women’s Rugby World Cup in August 2014. Coach Ramsey Tomokino said his team are just grateful to be able to play.

Coach Steve Jackson has made four changes to his lineup for Sunday morning’s game against Georgia. Faifili Levave drops to the bench with Josh Tyrell shifting to No. 8, while Piula Fa’asalele comes in at blindside flanker. Ben Nee-Nee, Iakopo Petelo-Mapu, Melani Matavao and Stacey Ili all drop out of the 23 entirely, with loosie Mat Luamanu, halfback Pele Cowley and centre Alofa Alofa taking their spots on the bench.

This afternoon the Football Federation Samoa (FFS) held a press conference to officially announce its Senior National Women’s Team which departs tomorrow for the OFC Women’s Nations Cup in New Caledonia 18th November – 1st December 2018.

The Marist St Joseph’s Sports Club were presented with $30,000 by the Chinese Embassy at a handover ceremony last Thursday evening. Club President Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio received the donation from Ambassador Wang Xuefeng, at an event which celebrated the club’s recent triumph at the Auckland Marist Samoa 7’s tournament in New Zealand.

Yesterday the Samoa women’s national football team departed for New Caledonia to take part in the Oceania Nations Cup. “This is the pinnacle women’s football event in our region,” said coach Nicola Demaine.

Tai Vili has won gold for Samoa in the over 70kgs category at the South Pacific Bodybuilding Championship in Rarotonga. The tournament in the Cook Islands was held under the umbrella of the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (I.F.B.B.).

The Samoa women’s national football team have spent the last week in camp ahead of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Nations Cup. They fly out on Tuesday for the World Cup and Olympic qualifying tournament which is hosted in New Caledonia.

Week 12 of the Upolu National Football League concluded at the Tuanaimato fields yesterday afternoon. Moaula FC and Vaiusu SC played out an entertaining 2-all draw, with Moaula’s U16 national team representative Samu Galu Tauasa nabbing an equaliser with the last kick of the game.

Beating world champion New Zealand gave Ireland "reassurance," lock Iain Henderson said on Monday. Two days after toppling the All Blacks 16-9 for the first time at home, Henderson said the team's prime motivation was not to be a one-win wonder.

Undisputed world cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk successfully defended his four belts and sent Tony Bellew into retirement by knocking out the British fighter in the eighth round in Manchester on Saturday.

The Samoa Basketball Federation started its four-day tournament at Apia Park gym earlier this week. The various categories competing in the tournament include open women and men, Under 17 and 14 boys, girls’ teams from Upolu, Savaii and an open men’s team from American Samoa.